Tiger Woods Bombing Tee Shots ahead of Hero World Challenge

NASSAU, Bahamas - Tiger Woods' first competitive round in almost 10 full months will take place Thursday, alongside a friendly playing partner yet unfamiliar opponent.

"The fact that I don't have any pain in my lower back compared to what I was living with for years, it's just remarkable", Woods told Golf Channel. I'm looking forward to competing again and finding rhythm and the feel of playing tournament golf and just hitting shots.

Recently, Fowler spoke of how Woods was hitting it "way past me" in practice rounds the two had played together. But Faxon did throw out a word of caution after playing with Woods. "He was not concerned about swinging hard and going at it with driver", Faxon observed.

"The fact that I don't have any pain in my lower back compared to what I was living with for years, it's just remarkable", Woods told reporters on Sunday after a speedy practice round at Albany, where he will make his first start in nearly nine months at this week's Hero World Challenge. He has brought some of it on himself, admittedly, and I'm not just referring to the infidelity that cost him his marriage. "I don't want to make it sound like I'm saying he's going to win next week", Faxon said. And it's been a struggle for years.

The Hero World Challenge, hosted by Woods in Albany, Bahamas, will include some of the best players in the world, such as Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas. He now sits at 1,199th in the Official World Golf Rankings, but according to @VC606 on Twitter, that number will likely be changing very soon.

"I am stiffer. I'm fused [following April's lumbar fusion], but I don't have the pain", added Woods, who was back on the tee Monday morning.

"He was happy and, more than anything, he's finally pain-free", he said.

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